Closure for fermentation vessels



Aug. 12, 1952 J. MAREK CLOSURE FOR FERMENTATION VESSELS Filed Oct. 21,1946 INVENTOR aoszr MAREK ATTO R NEYS Patented Aug. 12, 1952 cnososn FORFERMENTATION VESSELS Josef Marek, Moravska Ostrava, CzechoslovakiaApplication October 21, 1946, Serial No. 704,567 In Czechoslovakia June21, 1945 Section 1, Public Law 690, August 8, 1946 Patent expires June21, 1965 1 Claim.

This invention relates to closures for fermenta-' tion vessels,preserving jars and like receptacles.

Besides the known glass closures which are adapted to be tightlyinserted in the stopper of a fermentation or like vessel, it is known toconstruct closures and/or so-called fermentation caps which are capableof being used with various forms of vessels having widely differentwidths of neck. Such fermentation closures or caps are designed toprevent air or bacteria from entering said vessels and are attached byglue or other adhesive in an aperture in a parchment, paper or likecover which is tied or otherwise secured over the bottle or jar neck insimilar manner to the closures of jam jars.

These known arrangements have the disadvantage that the fermentationclosure or cap easily becomes loose under the influence of moisture andthat particles of the adhesive material, by which they are secured inposition, penetrate through the aperture in the parchment cover into thevessel and contaminate, or at any rate impair, the taste of thefermentation juices in the vessel.

Therefore, it is an object of this invention to provide a closure foruse in connection with fermentation vessels which will overcome theabove mentioned drawbacks.

It is another object of this invention to provide a closure forfermentation vessels which will maintain the vessel properly sealed andwill not be affected by moisture surrounding the closure.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will appear moreclearly from the following specification in connection with theaccompanying drawings which show an embodiment of the invention.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the structure shown thereinillustrates the closure or cap according to the invention as comprisingtwo mutually connectible parts, namely an upper part I having anexternally threaded extension I, and a lower annular part 2 which isinternally threaded and is adapted to be screwed on to the extension I.The upper part I is moreover provided with an annular cavity 3 adaptedto be filled with liquid to form a liquid seal and to receive acup-shaped cap 4 which is adapted to cover a central axial duct 5 formedin said closure member.

The closure or cap I with the extension I is fitted in a centralaperture 8 in a sheet 6 of parchment or other suitable material, whichis tied or otherwise secured over the mouth of the vessel 1 in the usualmanner. The aperture 8 in the cover 6 is of such a diameter that theextension I of the upper part I of the closure or cap fits closelytherein so that when the lower part 2 of the closure or cap is screwedon to the extension I, the edge of the cover 6 around the aperture 8 isclamped between the annular member 2 and the upper part I of the closureor cap. The upper part I is provided with an outwardly projecting flangeportion to ensure that a relatively large area of the cover 6 is clampedbetween said upper and lower parts I and 2 of said closure or cap.

With a closure or cap according to the invention carbon dioxide andother gases escaping from the fermenting liquid in the vessel I passthrough the central duct 5 of the closure or cap and thence escape intothe atmosphere in the form of bubbles through the liquid seal 3. As willbe clearly understood, the tightness of the closure or capaccording tothe invention is in no way affected or influenced by moisture or otheratmospheric conditions. In certain circumstances the tightness of theclosure or cap can be enhanced by suitably arranging a washer or otherpacking, such as cork, between the parts I and 2.

It must be clearly understood that the parts I and 2 of the cap orclosure may be made of any suitable material, and the closure or cap, asa whole, may be made of any suitable size appropriate to the varioussizes of vessel with which it is to be used.

While the invention has been described in connection with a specificembodiment'thereof, it is, of course, understood that the invention isnot limited by the particular structure shown in the drawing, butcomprises any modifications within the scope of the appended claim.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

A closure for fermentation vessels which is adapted to provide a coverfor vessels having openings of different diameters, said closurecomprising a sheet of parchment which is adapted to be secured over themouth of the vessel, an opening in said parchment, a stopper havingabutment means disposed in said parchment 3 4 comprising an invertedcup-shaped member, the UNITED STATES PATENTS peripheral wall of saidcup-shaped member being Number Name Date partly submerged in said liquidand being gen 702,584 Paquetbe June 17' 1902 erally spaced from thewalls of said annular 1359 351 Gash 16 1920 cavity. 6 11459 137 BowmQK:June 19' 1923 w 1,554,773 Wiggins Sept. 22, 1925 Y 1,680,060 Nelson Aug.7, 1928 REFERENCES ITE 1,823,595 Ducroux Sept. 15, 1931 The followingreferences are of record in the m g g ggg t ag; 2g

me thls patent 2,422,070 Bettencourt June 10, 1947

